Traffic signal



Oct. 1, 1957 v. P. BAILEY TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Aug. s, 195s k, fluff,

United States Patent iO TRAFFIC SIGNAL Vivian Pinnock Bailey, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application August 3, 1953, Serial No. 371,811

1 Claim. (Cl. 88-80) This'invention relates to a trahie signal, and more particularly to a traflic signal adapted to 4be worn by a trail-lc ocer and others to give notice to motorists of their presence.

One of the most hazardous duties for a traic officer is to stand in the center of a street or intersection guiding trafc. In particular, this duty is even more hazardous in the night time when motorists are concentrating on turns in the road and are subjected to the blinding headlights of approaching vehicles. Under such conditions, it is difficult t-o notice the presence of the officer in the street, inasmuch as it s customary for police officers to wear dark and drab clothing. Consequently, one often finds oneself on top of the officer before his presence is noted. As a result, it is sometimes too late to avoid striking the officer, and he may be seriously injured or even killed. Such conditions have a bad psychological effect on the driver, keeping him in a state of apprehension and causing him to forget about the yapproaching traffic, and that which follows behind him. Consequently, serious automobile accidents often occur as a result of concentrating on whom may be standing in the street.

To overcome the above hazardous conditions, it has been customary, in recent years, to employ traffic signals of various types, some of which are worn by the trac officer, and others being placed in close proximity to him, such as warning signs and the like. The present invention deals with that type of traic signal which is worn by the officer. This type of signal has taken many forms, such as phosphorescent cross-bands on the chest and -back of the wearer, 4cloaks or capes similarly treated, reective belts, and the like.

It has been found that phosphorescent garments, while an improvement over the use of no signal at all, are relatively ineffective until the motorist is rather close to the traflic oicer. This is due to the fact that phosphorescent materials, while they emit light, do not emit such light with a high enough intensity to be seen at any great distance. Furthermore, mere cross-bands, or belts do not provide much of a signal due to the small area of reflective or phosphorescent material involved. In addition, garments, such as capes and the like, are heavy and extremely uncomfortable and hazardous in warm summer weather, causing fatigue to the wearer.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved tratc signal to bel worn by traffic officers and the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved traffic signal which can be seen by approaching motorists at great distances.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved traffic signal which is light in weight and which can be attached to a traic ofiicers standard clothing with ease.

A further object of the present invention is to provide ICC an improved traic signal for traffic officers which is corn-n and from the accompanying drawings describing the pre.

ferred embodiment of this invention in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a traffic oicer.

shown wearing the trafic signal of this invention.

-Figure 2 is a rear elevational View of the traic signal shown in Figure 1. i

Figure 3 is a detailed view showing a portion of the traic signal and the shoulder straps for holding said signal, and showing in p-articular the hook-and-eye means for anchoring the shoulder strap in place.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of one of the reflectors used in the present traic signal, taken along the line 4-4 of Figure l.

yFigure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the outermost lower corner of the present traffic signal, taken along the line 5-5 of Figure l and showing a weight held therein for preventing the signal from blowing `and flap-l ping inthe wind.

Referring to the drawings, the traffic signal of the present invention is designated in its entirety in Fig. 1 by the letter S. As shown therein, the signal consists of a substantially rectangular ply of fabric 10 having a plurality of reflector discs 11 mounted thereon. The said fabric may consist Iof any suitable flexible material such as nylon, cotton, rayon, silk, canvas, vinyl, rubber and the like. The reflector discs 11 are attached to the fabric 10 over the open face of 'an aperture 12 provided therein, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to be discernible from both the front and rear, giving notice to motorists approaching the traffic oflicer from both directions. As shown inthe accompanying drawings, the discs 11 are attached to the fabric 10 by stitching 13 passing therethrough, valthough other suitable methods may be used. The discs 11 may lbe made from glass, or a suitable plastic having specially cut surfaces so as to reflect light at great distances, such as the type of reflector used in the tail-light of automobiles, or on road signs. A plastic disc would be prefenable in view of its greater flexibility and hence lesser fragility, as compared with glass.

Alternately spaced between successive discs 11 is a plurality of holes or openings 14 which permit the flow of air therethrough, thus preventing the traffic signal S from blowing in the wind. To further aid in preventing the signal from blowing in the wind, the outermost lower corner 15 thereof is provided with a pocket 16 which contains a weight 17 therein, as shown in Figs. l and 5. A small lead weight is preferred, although other suitable materials may serve equally as well.

The trahie signal S is suspended from the traflic officers arm, as shown in Fig. 1, by means of a plurality of looped-straps 18 encircling the ofiicers arm and fixedly attached to the upper edge 19 of the fabric 10. These straps may be made adjustable so as to accommodate various thickness of clothing, from heavy coats to mere shirtsleeves for warm-weather use. Secured to the top of each strap 18 and traveling longitudinally along the wearers arm is a band or strap 2t) which carries a hook 21 at the end thereof remote from the weighted side of the fabric 10. This h-ook 21 cooperates with an eye 22 attached to the shoulder of the wearers garment, as shown in Fig. 3, for securing the signal S thereto in fixed relationship. A similar hook 23 is attached to the lower corner of the fabric 10 opposite the weighted Patented Oct. l, 1957 .-1 pocket 16, as in Fig. 2, which hook engages an eye fixed to the hip area o f the wearer-s garment.

In using the traffic signal `of this invention, the traffic officer need merely slip his arm through the straps it; and attach .the haaks l and 231m' their respective mating eyes attached to the otcers garments. Thus attached, the signal is xed rin place and is prevented from blowing in the wind `by the joint action of the holes 1 4 in the fabric 1G, and the weight f7 in the lower corner thereof. When the ofcer desires to direct trahie, all he need do is to raise his arm, as shown in Fig. I, and motorists approaching him from both front and rear will immediately be aware of his presence due to thel reflection of the automobile headlights by the disc ijf, and inasmuch as glass or plastic reflectors are employed` rather than a p hosphorescent pigment, his presence will be detected from much greater distances; thus providing the motorists with ample opportunity to take the proper safety precautions. When the officer is not directing traffic, thevtramc signal will merely lie at side and in such! position will not cause any discomfort to theI more sensitive parts of the body.

VItmvvill/ be seein from the above description, that a traliicy signal is provided by this invention, which is in expensive, simple in construction, and easy to use, being easilyadaptable to the wearers arm without consuming` hardly any time. lt will further be seen that by its novel construction it can be seen from both the front and rear at 'the same time. AAnd being light in weight and sus-- pended from the arm, rather than being wrapped about the body as in the customary ease, such a device is more Acomfortable in all types of weather and climate.

It is'to be noted the the present traffic signal is readily adaptable to a multitude of uses in addition to being worn yby a tratc oflicer. For example, it'rnay be placed ou't'he rear of a parked vehicle, or a military caravan, or onv a ltrailer, ormay be suspended from lumber or piping extending from the rear of a truck yon the open highway. It may also be used by a fire department for blocking offroads and streets, or for public school safety patrolsl Although the present discussion of this invention has been limited to the above-described preferred embodiment, other variations thereof are possible Without departing from the spirit of the invention. lt is therefore not intended that the invention be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed but only to thhe inventive concept as defined by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A trame signal for traffic officers comprising, a substantially rectangular ply `of fabric having a front sido, a rear side, a top edge, a bottom edge, and side edges; the said fabric being provided with a plurality of apertures therein; reflector discs mounted over alternate apertures so as to be discernible from both the front and rear sides of said fabric, the remaining apertures permitting the flow of air therethrough to prevent the fabric from blowing in the wind; a pocket in 4one lower corner of said fabric adjacent the bottom edge thereof; a hook on the other lower corner for attaching the fabric to the oflcers body; a lead weight carried by said pocket to prevent the fabric from blowing in the wind', a plurality of looped-straps carried by the top edge of said fabric for suspending the fabric from the traffic oicers arms; a band running parallel to said top edge and joined to each of said looped-straps; and a second hook on one end of said band on the same side as the hook, on the said lower corner of said fabric for attaching said strap to the oticcrs shoulder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 643,945 Clifford Feb. 20, 19,00

904,512 Dailey Nov. 24, s 1,020,396 Blank Mar. 19, 1912 1,298,550 Newell Mar. y25, 1919 1,507,6l7 McWilliam Sept. 9, 1924 1,670,176 Woolery May l5, 1928 1,833,109 Day Nov. 24, l93l 2,196,550 Feltner Apr. 9, 1 940 2,534,313 Starltey Dec. 19, 1950 t i 4 l 

